(14B) Aquilegia William Guiness

The deep purple, almost black bonnets of Aquilegia 'William Guinness' contrast beautifully with the white corollas. The flowers are 3-4 cm across and last up to a fortnight in a vase. Aquilegias are a cottage garden essential with sweet and nodding flowers and delightful lacy foliage. Aquilegias elegant, fern like leaves are a rare blue-green colour. They are a beautiful foil for other plants and they develop just in time to fill in for the fading spring flowers, the fresh foliage starts growing in early spring. The flowers open on narrow, branched stems and face outward to upward. Aquilegias like light to moderate shade though will tolerate full sun. The flowers will last longer when planted in light shade. Aquilegias are suitable for growing in a lightly shaded border, morning sun, massed plantings or in large containers. After the initial flowering has finished, cut the stems back to the basal foliage for future blooms. Leave the last flowers of the season to form seed heads for future generations of plants. Seedlings are unlikely to flower true to type as they hybridise easily. Keep good air flower around the plants to avoid powdery mildew and keep an eye out for aphids. Aquilegia should be planted in moist, well drained humus rich soil.

Supplied as: Pots
Size: 10 cm